BRACKNELL PLEADS POVERTY OVER 2010/11 BUDGET

11.20.19am GMT Thu 21st Jan 2010

Staff and front line services face cuts and some redundancies

The 2010/11 budget report approved by the Executive of Bracknell Forest Council on 18 December 2009 formed the basis for the annual budget public consultation exercise which ends on 26 January 2010.

The council has indicated it faces an unprecedented challenge to produce a balanced budget for 2010/11. The combination of rising costs and falling income has put its finances under severe pressure.

In an effort to offset the loss of revenue, the council has embarked on a series of planned efficiency savings and reductions in back office costs. Larger cuts in certain front line services have also been included for the first time. The anticipated budget shortfall of £1.74m will be met from either reserves, a council tax increase or further reductions in expenditure.

The response made by Bracknell Liberal Democrats to these proposals is attached.

Ray Earwicker, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell, said 'there was little doubt the council had more of a problem this year in achieving a balanced budget but the problems were largely of its own making. Each year the council grew larger and had relied on above inflation rate increases in council tax to get it out of jail. This year staff were being asked to bear the brunt of the council's bungled investments and its failure to live within its means.

There was no doubt residents would feel the effect of the cuts, especially those who made use of the 'early bird' facility at the Coral Reef, the town centre library or the 'Look In' in the Broadway. The saving from these particular cuts, which was about £100,000 a year, could quite easily be met from a more general increase in recreation and leisure fees and charges, which bring in over £10m a year. A freeze on Members' allowances, which are already the highest in Berkshire, would help!

Despite the obvious financial difficulties, where were admittedly compounded by the Government's totally inadequate grant settlement, there was still more than enough in reserves to cover the projected budget shortfall of £1.74m and any increase in council tax should therefore be unnecessary.'